Three-Quarters of African Americans Concerned About Income Inequality, Survey Finds

April 7, 2014

Nearly three-quarters of African Americans are concerned about income inequality and believe society is not doing enough to support young men and boys of color, a survey by the and magazine finds.

Based on a (18 pages, PDF) of more than a thousand African Americans, the State of Black Family Survey found that 73 percent of respondents said they were very or somewhat concerned about income inequality, while 30 percent identified "improving the economy and creating jobs" as the issue that concerns them most. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they were better off financially than they were five years ago, while 88 percent said they were very or somewhat satisfied with their quality of life.

"Despite the many problems and challenges African Americans face in 2014, they display the same strength and resilience that has characterized their four-hundred-year struggle in America," said Ron Lester, whose company, Lester & Associates, conducted the survey. "Most express high levels of satisfaction with their lives in general, and in the aggregate, they have an estimated buying power of over $1 trillion dollars annually. Yet at the same time, many problems persist."

For example, the survey found that 74 percent of respondents said not enough is being done to support and nurture young men and boys of color; nearly one-third were concerned their children were not receiving a quality education; and 58 percent reported facing discrimination very often (14 percent) or sometimes (44 percent).

The survey also found that while 60 percent of surveyed African Americans agreed the country is making progress in providing access to health care, 74 percent said progress toward reducing crime and violence had stalled, while 44 percent said they knew someone who had committed suicide or been killed.

"We have a lot of work to do in creating jobs and making sure that people of color receive the training and education needed to obtain those jobs," said La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. "We believe the lack of employment is really critical and impacts a child's well-being and limits opportunities."